"Well?" His Excellency gasped, still pale, glaring at her as if she were some object supernatural. All his self-possession had left him. "The fact is a mystery no longer." "Why?" "Because the identical cheque has been recovered and bears your endorsement," she answered, in a slow, distinct voice. "Who has recovered it?" he demanded quickly. "Who has it?" She smiled triumphantly. This elegant man who but a moment ago had talked boldly, as became the Ambassador of Italy, was now cringing before her seeking information. His cool demeanour had altogether forsaken him. "I have that cheque," she said, her clear, unwavering eyes fixed upon his. In an instant Castellani perceived that he was in the power of this pretty woman he had denounced and condemned. He knew well, too, that she was not the gay, abandoned woman that La Funaro was popularly supposed to be. "Reflect for a single moment," she continued ruthlessly. "What would be the result of the production of that missing draft about which so much has been written in the newspapers?" The Ambassador bit his lip. Never in the whole course of his long and varied diplomatic career had he been so ingeniously checkmated by a woman. The estimate he had formed of her long ago was entirely correct. She possessed really remarkable talents. "The result would certainly be rather annoying," he observed, making a sorry attempt to smile. "It would throw a very fierce light upon the ways and means of the party of thieves and adventurers who are endeavouring to grab Italy and grow fat upon its Treasury," she exclaimed. "The situation at Rome has, I understand, changed considerably within the past week or so. The public mind is feeling the influence of unfavourable winds. Well, it is possible before long that this missing cheque will have to be produced." "Which will mean my ruin!" he blurted forth. "You know that well. If that cheque ever gets into the hands of the present Government, I shall be recalled and tried in a criminal court as a common thief." "That's exactly what I said not long ago. You then declared that you had never touched a soldo of other persons' money," she observed, standing with her hand resting upon the writing-table, a slim, graceful figure in her dark stuff dress. "No, Gemma, no!" he exclaimed earnestly. "You can't mean to expose this. I--I don't believe you have the cheque, after all. How did you learn my secret?" "It is my duty to become acquainted with the secrets of those in opposition to the Government," she answered simply. "Remember what you have said of me since we have been together in this room. Of a woman of my evil reputation, what can you expect but exposure?" "You have resolved upon a vendetta?" he cried in a tone of genuine alarm. "I have resolved to treat you fairly," she replied, so calm that not a muscle of her face moved. "In return for that envelope and its contents which you've snatched from me, I will give you back your cheque."